Problem of Snow Shoveling in U.S.

Pay someone to do it. Probably the oldest solution known to mankind.

The cause of the backache is due the lack of exercise. ;-)

I agree

Find the neighborhood kids to do it, they can use the exercise.

Osteopathy and chiropractic care are two overlapping 'alternative' approaches to maintaining the body's health, particularly in relation to spinal problems. Both approaches work (from personal experience).

Snow blowers work better with dry powdery snow than with wet heavy snow.

But if you need a snowblower get one that is powerful enough, has electric start and is self-propelled.

Closer to $1000 than $100. ( I haven't priced one since I bought a 7 1/2 HP about 12 years ago)

It is still hard work when you have several inches (400 mm+) of wet, heavy snow.

(The neighbors don't like it when you clean your driveway at 5:00 A.M.)

I agree and would add that if she buys a snow blower she should only consider a multistage snow blower. The chutes on single stage blowers will plug quickly if the snow is "wet".

Tell her to buy a snow shovel that looks like this

You'd be amazed at the difference the bent handle makes. If it's still too much, trim 2" or so off each side so she can't pick up as much. Finally, learn to "snow plow" where you simply push the shovel across the driveway, only lifting at the end.

I just discovered that that bent (now kinked ) handle doesn't hold up very well under heavy use ( abuse?) with wet heavy snow.

And by the way, snow blowers don't like rocky uneven driveways which are not unlike the rocky uneven roads here in Pennsylvania.

Shoveling snow is a sport, and like any other sport there are things to do in order to do it safely:

Warm-up your muscles

Bend your knees for lifting

Go at a safe pace for your physical condition

If you have a lot of snow to move, this type of shovel lets you do it without lifting, just pushing:

Lastly, ENJOY!

I lived in Denver for ten years and quickly learned during my first winter there to hire (for a nominal fee) someone to shovel my driveway and sidewalks.

Then I moved to Texas and vaguely remember now what a snow shovel looks like ;->

Why didn't the snow blower work properly, Suresh? If pulling the cord is the problem, my advice is to install an pushbutton electric starter. Many stores that sell snow blowers have technicians that could do this for her.

While I live on the connecticut coastline and the snow is much more dense than Denver, I've never heard anyone say snowblowers are not effective. Sure, some types are better than others, but a 2-stage snowblower with enough horsepower will work on just about any type of snow. The electric start option makes it so much easier.

I'd suggest you retry the snowblower suggestion to her, and have her visit a few different power equipment shops to get a feel for what's available, price range and a machine she's comfortable with.

Back injuries are nothing to mess around with, throw away the shovel. OK, wel, don't get rid of it, but certainly have her get a proper snowblower for the bulk of the work.

The back ache is due to use of muscles that normally don't get worked enough by the general population. Heavy wet snow if worked while its coming down would be easier on the back then waiting until its all fallen. Less weight in the shovel and not as packed down.

As far as snow blower working well or not you get what you pay for. The one that I use which is rarely does a good job on wet snow.

have her invite her father to visit from India and teach him how to use a shovel or a blower. it would be a wonderful experience for him

Here is a solution to your daughter's problem with moving snow... http://www.snowscoop.com/ I have been using one of these for 20 years. Basically, one just pushes and dumps the scoop of snow. No more lifting. You accelerate the forward motion of the scoop just before stopping it abruptly, and the snow slides right off. I have no fiduciary interest in the company.

My wife bought one of those years ago. Hers is called a Snoweeze but it's the same. She loves it. The limitation is that you need to use it about every 3 inches of snowfall or else it loads up before you get to the dumping point.

I had surgery in January and have been on a pretty stringent lifting restriction. Last week we had one of those 1" flurries that dropped 5" (thanks, lake effect!) while my wife was at work, so I got out the Snoweeze every hour and kept the path clear for her. Piece of cake and less stringent than picking up the cat.

There is also an other option: install electric tracing in the driveway and you snow will disappear whithout you doing anything.

With the proper controls you will not pay for keeping the driveway hot but only for melting the snow.

Google Electromelt

Hi Gwen,

That sounds like a very expensive solution, and not very "green". Also it's not an option for renters. I have three shovels, one for pushing, one for lifting, and a narrow rugged one for chopping ice. When the snow is deep and wet, the pusher gets bogged down after a few feet. There is no choice then but to use the lifter, and take many trips to the sides of the driveway. This is hard work, and will get to your back if you don't take a few breaks. I had a cheap snowblower, but gave it to a charity after I hurt my back pulling on the rope!

If you drive your car over the snow, it will pack down, making it harder to get off, and will often turn to ice over night. Letting the sun clear the sidewalk is not a good option in a city, as it leaves you open to a lawsuit if anybody slips. Denver may have an ordinance and give out fines if it is not cleared.

S

I am a mere novice when it comes to snow shoveling, snow blowering and generally dealing with snow. Quite frankly I wish to remain in a state of personal ignorance of such matters, but for your daughter's sake I would like to inquire to those hardy souls that live in snow country: Is there some technique involved in operating a snow blower? There are many people that assume that they miraculously can intuit the best way to do anything with any piece of equipment. I have been one of those people from time to time. Perhaps the people that she is receiving information from are dispensing the results of their ineptitude.

SO...snow blowering experts...is the blowing of snow (with an engine-driven screw) a job that can be done by an entry-level hire on his first day in the North, or does it require some experience (or at least good instruction)??

Gee...the a/c just came on...no snow in Florida today!

We also had an aluminum type of device similiar to the "snow ese" above, we bought from a garage sale, but had not used it, until we moved to Alaska and had 24" in 24 hours dumped on us in April, 2002. A neighbor had his three car drive way cleared with his "snow ese" type while I was still struggling with my old Sears two stage blower. I tried it and WOW! it works, so we use when needed. In the meantime, now that we're back in the Chicago area, we bought an Ariens single stage 5.5 hp blower that my kid uses exclusively for five two car driveways. It works very well even with heavy wet snow, if fact when it was new and I was blowing snow where water was puddling, it threw water too! Fun! Now we're waiting for the paddles to wear a little more for the life time warrenty replacement. (Blizzards? No Problem! Got a teenager and a blower!)

Tell her that I have never shoveled snow in my life. When the snow got too deep for me in Oklahoma, 1976-1977, I moved to Houston Texas. Here in Texas, we wear boots, not because of snow, rather because of all the fertilizer that is spread about. I know that in India, you have the same problem as your cattle are revered, thus, she would feel right at home. Note: I do not intend to offend, this is a tongue in cheek answer. Actually, snow removal is hard work and for one who never had to remove snow in their youth, it is surprising how heavy snow can be. The only way to do snow removal correctly is to let Mother Nature do it. It might take a while but she does it for free.

Tell her to remove the next snowfall from her driveway with an empty coffee can. She will then find the shovel works much better.

Brad from Minnesota

As others have mentioned there are a variety of mechanical methods of moving snow. I have often wondered about a solar system using glycol and solar pumps. The draw back would be drainage and ice buildup. Some of the newer solar water should be capable of producing enough heat.

If you are serious about a snow remover that works well, try www.oshkoshtruck.com

Ha ha. nobody likes snow in their driveway!!

solution....move south to Arizona

It can snow a lot here in Massachusetts. I love snow. I have a big driveway, and a big snowblower. I start by going right down the middle, then working my way to each side. But snowblowers do have limitations. you couldn't do a Walmart parking lot with one.

Here are my rules to follow:

Never shovel, it will kill you. Hire a kid to do the walkways, pay her well.

If you can't afford a snowblower, pay someone to plow. I don't like to get plowed, as you have to wait for them to showup, and plows break, and they don't tell you, and it's 10pm and your driveway is still full of snow...

If you live where it snows, buy a Jeep, then you can worry about snow removal when you get home from work.

Police you driveway when you hear it's going to snow. You don't want to suck up an old rag or tree branch that's burried. You will break a shear pin, then your going nowhere, and you will be on your knees, outside, in the snow, replacing it.

Keep extra shearpins on hand, anyway.

Take really good care of you snowblower. Clean her, give her new fresh oil often, tell her you love her. She is your freedom.

4 seasons are better than 3 seasons, or 2 or none....

Boy, for something that doesn't work properly, they sure sell a lot of them! Suggest your daughter have someone show her how to use the snow blower properly. They come in all sizes and shapes, single or dual action, 2 and 4 cycle engines, and so on.

Pay someone with a snowplough on his pickup to come over and clean the drive and walkways....there are 1000s of such people within 10 miles of Denver.....I know, I have been there many times in winter!!!

Thanks to all my friends at CR4 for your comments and suggestions, some are very usefull. I would like to clarify:- 1) I asked her about problems with Snow Blowers, she told me that they dont work when snow is only 2" thick. 2) Getting some one else to do the job is also difficult as school boys who do such petty jobs are not easily availble in her area. 3)I have seen web sites of some of the Snow Blowers mfrs., I could find the smallest model is 5 H.P. I feel using such machine for drive way is not a right application. 4) I understand that in some areas Sr.Citizens live all alone and for them it must be difficult to shovel the snow or operate oversized Snow Blowers. I felt that we being Engineers are the people who are supposed to solve the problems faced by human kind. I would prefer some thing small sized machine which is electricaly powered and easy to handle. Also it should be economicaly priced as it will used only for few months. Can any one of us give a thought and introduce such machine?.

Another option that works well with nuisance snowfalls is heat tubes in the concrete driveway or sidewalks. Moisture sensors activate a boiler and it heats the driveway thus melting and evaporating the snow on contact. Snow never gets a chance to build up and its removal is not necessary. This is not a 'green' solution but works well for those that are not able to remove their snow or for highly traveled areas that need to be continuously clear.

The concrete does need to be heated continuously, however, so abrupt changes in temperature do not break it up.

Your local friendly plumbing contractor should be able to tell you more.

Noma used to sell an electric snow blowing shovel.

In my opinion it is a useless toy unless you use it on light fluffy snow. The kind of snow that is easy to shovel in the first place.

As a solution, you did not mention the hiring of professionals to remove snow. Here we have dozens of such companies. You will have to use and maintain a snow blower for 5 to 10 years before you can amortize the cost over the service. A cheap snow blower won't last that long.

For a good laugh, especially if you understand some French: Le LCD Shovel

More good reasons to consider using a SnoWonder snow scoop instead of a snow blower... the scoop stands at the ready, waiting for those 2+" snowfalls; no maintenance required or fuel to purchase; easy to start. And, if you just must have the noise of a small engine running to listen to, while using a scoop, one can attach a small playback device (tape or digital) to the handle that will play the recorded sound of a chainsaw or similar small engine. To meet the need for a small electrically powered device to remove fresh snow... a leaf blower.

Opman, I would love to have one of those systems. Can you say: BIG BUCKS? This guy is from India, total warm weather mentality. Lucky him. If you live where it snows, and I do believe it snows, a lot, in Denver, a snowblower will pay for itself in less than a year. If she's not going to to be there that long, buy an MTD at Walmart. Better yet, get the boyfriend to do it.

Dear Bricktop, Thanks for your suggestion. Yes, I live in India sunny city of Mumbai, we dont have snow fall but soot fall (Pollution) you are welcome to be lucky too. What is MTD? can you give detailed name then I will tell her to consider to buy one. Snow scoop is also simple device for samll drive way. I was thinking if any one of us can think of mechanised simple device like small lawn mover which can cut and shovel the snow for domestic application. I am living thousands of miles away I can not imagine the local conditions, so if such machine is mfd, it will be for benefit of all.

Dear Suresh, I have daughters too, and we try to help them out all we can. MTD brand is a cheap snowblower sold at Walmart. That said, Her best bet is to pay a snow removal company, that is bonded, and is gonna show up. I'm sure there are many in Denver. Denver is like, the snow capital of the world. Lucky Denver.

Dear Bricktop, Thanks for your reply. I surfed Walmart web site and found that Snow Joe 6.6 Amp Electric Snow Blower is ideal machine for drive ways. This is the type of machine I was searching for domestic drive ways. Have you heard anything about performance of this machine?. It is low priced machine @ $88.00, I am scared if it is Made in China then God Forbids money will go in the drain. I have asked my daughter and her hubby to look at it Walmart Store. Regards, Suresh.

Na, don't low ball this. If you live in Denver, you need a gas powered real snowblower. The electric ones are for people that live in North Carolina. If you live in Denver, you get a lot of snow.

( Lucky Denver) I still think her best bet is to pay a qualified snow removal expert. I'm sure it's big business in Denver, probably the snow capital of the world. You get what you pay for.

We don't know how much she can afford for a snow blower or for a snow removal service.

We don't know her physical capabilities. I had a grandmother in law that was shoveling snow at 93. (A picture of her in the local paper otherwise we wouldn't had known.)

We don't know why she has a problem, her dad has not clarified that!!

She might be a wuss!!

we're only guessing that she has a bad back, no muscle, no gumption, or ???

My 16 year old daugher ran a snowblower to clear 6+ (150MM+) of snow from my driveway and a neighbors. ( He had fallen hanging christmas lights and broken his arm.)

why not sprinkle salt on the road of your house ? i think it a good idea to deal with it .

What Yejc, do you live in Florida or something? You need more than a ton of salt to melt less than a ton of snow, then you end up with solid ice. And DDK, cut the girl a little slack here. She's from a warm weather place. Snow can be overwelming. I love snow. Snow is fun. Perhaps you can guess I like to ski, and snowboard, and snowshoe, and make snow angles, and I hope we get a meter of it tonight...that would be cool